Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

As you see each of my hikes, you’ll notice that not always am I able to complete a hike during the ideal time of the year and weather conditions. I try to time it right, but you can only control this so much. This was not the case with Rough Ridge Overlook. The weather was absolutely perfect and the fall foliage was bursting with color.

This trail is basically on the Blue Ridge Parkway so it’s a convenient hike. It’s relatively low-effort as well so you’ll likely see quite a few hikers on the trail. Don’t let it deter you!

Of course, we greatly enjoyed the Blue Ridge Parkway drive, including Howie 🐶…

We parked and began hiking the trail, crossing a shaded bridge shortly after the hike began. The weather felt amazing.

As we began ascending, it did not take long to begin seeing some amazing views. The mixture of orange, crimson, brown, light green and dark green foliage was a site to see…

Multiple rocky outcroppings create a foreground in front of jaw dropping views of the mountains and foliage…

If you’re feeling bold, you can climb several of the boulders along the trail for some epic photos…

The bright foliage creates a colorful tunnel in some sections of the trail. You’re right in the thick of it! This trail actually seems to be where the flashiest foliage is in the area…

Wow…. Breathtaking…

And for the crescendo picture, here’s a panoramic I took where the bright foliage was most evident. I touched this photo up modestly because of the brightness inconsistencies. But holy crap, look at this…

And if you’d like to see a video version with sweeping views…

Please do yourself a favor and go do this hike in October at least once in your lifetime. This is perhaps the most colorful hike I have ever done. I am still in awe.

Before we tackled Rough Ridge Overlook, we visited Grandfather Mountain. Just to give you some perspective on the fall beauty of this hike, here is the area around the trail from Grandfather Mountain…

Total Distance/Time: 3.39 miles in 1 hr 44 min (we walked extra)

Calories Burned: 898

Trail Type: Out-and-back

Trail Features: Mountain views, rocky outcroppings, fall foliage, wooden bridge, waterfall (dependent upon rain)

Best Time to Hike: October!

Trail Tips:

• Weather: Pick a clear day; you can see for miles.
• Watch Your Feet: Rocks can be slippery (doh!). Also, be prepared for walking over medium to large rocks/boulders.
• Parking Situation: Parking is limited but you can park along the road (from my recollection).

Difficulty Rating: 5/10

Trailhead Coordinates: 36.098, -81.797